Social Dynamics of the North Central European Plains, 600–900s CE: A Model

Abstract

In light of the data discussed in Chaps. 2 and 3, I argue that the Early Middle Ages phase 1 and the Early Middle Ages phase 2 societies of the North Central European Plain 500s–700s CE followed a polycentric scheme of self-governance and managed their resources in a primarily cooperative manner for about 200 years until a region-wide political multi-agent organization of the Tornow Interaction Sphere emerged in the late 700s and the 800s CE. Its collapse at the end of the 800s–early 900s CE piloted the emergence of a first-generation state-level polity in Greater Poland. The four stages of political organization in the region include: Participatory polycentric governance scheme of the Early Middle Ages phase 1, Manorial organization of the Early Middle Ages phase 2, Multi-agent political organization of the Early Middle Ages phase 3, and Pre-state-level complexity of the Early Middle Ages phase 4. Preferences toward collective actions did not disappear with the increase of political integrity and emergence of hierarchal structures, but were channeled into other forms of communal activities, while redistribution of incentives replaced reciprocity.KeywordsSocial ControlSettlement PatternPolitical OrganizationArcheological DataSettlement DensityThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.